2403 Brien had been good about taking his medicine until lately. Dionne marring Russ Chandler had thrown him . He wanted her to marry and be happy but, with Russ Chandler? How could she be?

Elijah was going to be home today and Brien II would go and spend some time with him. Brien knocked on the door and when she asked, he told her who he was but, she misunderstood. She was asking if he had forgotten his key as she opened the door. He saw her expression change as recognition came to her. He told her who he had come to see but, Sheri seemed to stall and then said he wasn't there. He pushed past her into the apartment, angry that Elijah wasn't there or that Sheri was keeping him from seeing Elijah. Sheri didn't want him there and his anger rose. His head was pounding . The smell of paint, of stew cooking ,of her. He thought the past was replaying itself in his head changing parts repeating others. The police were there, Brian was there. Sheri was lien's , he hadn't done a thing. Medicine, his son wanted to know . Had he taken it? Ofcourse he had but, it turned out he hadn't. They didn't want him around all the time.

Brien II sat alone in his room. Sheridan, most of his life revolved around her. He couldn't think of a time when she didn't affect his life in one way or another. He had thought he was getting better, now he knew he wasn't. What kind of life was it?
The first rape, had just happened. Sheri had come to him because she loved and trusted him. He had taken her, to show Mel who she really belonged to, who she really loved. As it turned out, his was the first child she bore. The second had been for the same reasons, only this time a child was part of a plan and instead of Mel, it was his own son, Brian Doyle. Betrayal was what he felt, not just Sheri's but, his sons too. Brien II sat there, his head wrapped in his arms and cried. He had done all of this to himself. No one else was responsible. Brian Doyle was a good man and he knew Sheridan would always love him.
His journal recorded all his thoughts, his love for his children,all of them Lacey too and his grandchildren. His wife and family. Sheridan, well she was like the glue that held him together and he thought now, after this last episode, that she would let that glue dissolve. She didn't.

2404 Brien II had a nurse-housekeeper now. She saw to it that he took his pills, arrived for appointments and found outside interests. She also helped him alleviate stress so that it didn't build up. He saw her as a wife, without benefits. She was plain and lacked the depth of Sheri and the airiness of Dionne. She was just normal and that was a relief. He didn't need her-she was easily replaced and she didn't need him. He wanted to be able to have breakfast with Elijah and Allison and walk with them to and from school everyday. Then once in awhile he wanted to be able to take them somewhere for the morning or afternoon. To babysit to be with them as a family. Family was important and if it was to happen he had to change his thinking. That was the hard part. He had to face the facts, Sheridan was...A. His SON's wife B. His DAUGHTER in law C. The mother of Allison and Elijah. That was all she would ever be. ( inside his head, the mother of His child rang and he saw all the labels began with HIS).
2404 October His head seemed to be in the right place. He was beginning to feel whole again. That's when he was hit with another blow. Dionne and Russ"s twin girls were born. Brien II never thought Dionne would have more children. Maybe their marriage was in trouble. She had never shown any interest in having another child. His head began to ache and the pain to spread. He headed for the door and the phone rang. It was Sheri. If you come here Brien and ruin all the progress we've made so far, I will shoot you. Then she hung up. He went and she shot him -with a tranquilizer gun.

Sheridan had been afraid he might go to Dionne's when he heard about the babies and she couldn't allow that to happen.

He was home when he awoke. The nurse and Sheri were both there. The nurse went into the kitchen for coffee. He looked up at Sheri and asked , what? She was calm as she spoke,Brien you cannot do this to yourself or us anymore. We all have lives to live. Live yours. Stop trying to control everything , you can't. I am not to blame for your choices. Dionne isn't either. Then she got up and left. She was right, he did have to move on. Maybe he should except some of those invitations he kept getting. There were other women in this world.

Whenever he looked back at this time in his life he would remember this meeting and what she had said-- and the gun! Sheri had given him yet one more beginning and he took it this time!